Magnificent Sevens
WITH A VICTORY in the Sprint Cup season finale on Nov. 20 in Homestead, Fla., Jimmie Johnson wrapped up his seventh title in NASCAR's top division. The 41-year-old Johnson joins Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty as the only seven-timers. Here's how the three stack up.
TALE OF THE TAPE
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BASIC INFO | RICHARD PETTY #43 1958 to '92; 1,184 races, 200 wins | DALE EARNHARDT #3 1975 to 2001; 676 races, 76 wins | JIMMIE JOHNSON #48 2001 to ...; 543 races, 80 wins |
DRIVING GENES | Hall of Fame dad was named one of NASCAR's 50 best, in '98. | Hall of Fame dad was named one of NASCAR's 50 best, in '98. | Mom drove a school bus. |
HOMETOWN | Tiny central North Carolina town of Randelman. | Tiny central North Carolina town of Kannapolis. | Suburban San Diego town of El Cajon. |
FACIAL HAIR | Fu Manchu to handlebars to Groucho-esque configuration. | Wore a soup-strainer. Shaved once, causing a slump. | Ranges from clean-shaven to stubble to full-on beard. |
AFTER SEVEN? | Won his seventh at 41. Drove 13 more years, but he never finished higher than fourth. | Won his last title at 43. Finished second at 49, the year before his death in 2001. | At 41, he's averaged 5.0 wins over the last five years, so don't bet against eight. |